Genick

German

Etymology

From Middle High German genicke, collective of nac, nacke (whence modern Nacken). The -i- can be explained from underlying *genecke through influence of nicken (“to nod”). Alternatively, Middle High German genicke could be derived from the e-variant in Dutch nek, English neck (which is not attested in High German, however). Cognate with Hunsrik Gnick.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈnɪk/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ge‧nick
• Rhymes: -ɪk

Noun

Genick n (strong, genitive Genicks or Genickes, plural Genicke)

1. nape of the neck

   Synonym: Nacken

2. (specifically) the joint portion of the neck which joins the vertebrae (which has no regularly used English name)

   Synonym: Kopfgelenk

Declension

Declension of Genick [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Genick	die	Genicke
genitive	eines	des	Genicks, Genickes	der	Genicke
dative	einem	dem	Genick, Genicke1	den	Genicken
accusative	ein	das	Genick	die	Genicke

¹Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

• das Genick brechen
• das Genick umdrehen
• Genickfang
• Genickschuss
• Genickstarre

 

Further reading

• “Genick” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
• “Genick” in Duden online
• “Genick” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “Genick” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• Genick on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de